Did you know that 1 in 4 people go grey before age 40?
It may sound common, but what we’re learning more and more today is that whilst something may be ‘common’, it’s not necessarily ‘normal’ or healthy. Even if going grey is on the cards for you, seeing greying hairs early can be a sign your body is struggling, and it needs extra support.
Why does hair turn grey?
Hair turns grey when oxidative stress overwhelms the body’s ability to cope, as well as issues with mitochondrial function. As we age, our ability to produce antioxidants to protect us from oxidative stress decreases, meaning our cells can become damaged and malfunction more easily. Similarly with mitochondria, the ‘engines’ in our cells; as we age, these engines can slow down, leading to fatigue, digestive distress, diabetes, greying hair, and even vision and hearing issues just to name just a few.
Hair turns grey when oxidative stress overwhelms the body’s ability to cope, as well as issues with mitochondrial function. As we age, our ability to produce antioxidants to protect us from oxidative stress decreases, meaning our cells can become damaged and malfunction more easily. Similarly with mitochondria, the ‘engines’ in our cells; as we age, these engines can slow down, leading to fatigue, digestive distress, diabetes, greying hair, and even vision and hearing issues just to name just a few.
As well as these issues, there are some specific causes of early greying to look out for:
How To Fix Greying Hair (and the nutrients you might be missing)
If you’ve noticed a few grey hairs peeping through a little earlier than expected, don’t panic. Yes, this is a sign your body is probably a little stressed and depleted, but there are several things you can do to help, and it all starts with replenishing your nutrient stores.
Vitamin B12
If you’re low in B12, your hair will tell you. B12 is responsible for the growth of healthy red blood cells, and when low, this can lead to under-nourishment of hair follicles. Vitamin B12 is also involved in the production of melanin, which gives hair its colouring. Early greying and hair loss are both associated with low levels of B12.
Copper
Copper helps activate an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is important for melanin production. Remember that melanin is needed in order to give hair its colour, so you’ll need plenty of this nutrient to prevent and slow down greying.
Zinc
Low zinc levels are associated with early greying, as zinc is not only involved in overall hair health, strength, growth and repair, but also that all important melanin production. Zinc is also important for protecting cells.
Catalase
Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme needed to break down hydrogen peroxide (remember? – that chemical which is essentially bleaching your hair grey from the inside out…). Beef liver is one of the richest dietary sources of catalase, and can support its function in breaking down excess hydrogen peroxide.
Iron
Iron is needed for healthy red blood cells, and without enough of it, the hair follicles can’t be nourished. A lack of haemoglobin in red blood cells can also lead to a lack of melanin – again for hair colouring – thus causing premature greying. Low iron levels are often found during pregnancy and post-partum, in women with heavy menstruation, or by simply not consuming enough iron. A diet excessively high in processed foods and grains may also have a link to low iron levels, as these can bind to iron and prevent the body absorbing it. You’ll find the best sources of iron in animal foods which are rich in ‘heme’ iron, as this is much more easily absorbed than ‘non-heme’ iron sources from plants.
Essentials For Greying Hair: Beef Liver & Celtic Oysters
This powerful combination of original superfoods are already two of our most popular products for overall wellbeing, vitality and hormonal health. What you may not know though, is that they’re incredible for replenishing the nutrients you need to prevent, slow down and even reverse greying hair.
Our Grass Fed Beef Liver and Celtic Oysters are two of the richest natural sources of B12, copper, zinc, catalase and iron on the planet, giving you the essential raw materials needed to provide your hair with exactly what it needs.
To focus on greying hair, we recommend combining these products for optimal results by taking one in the morning and one in the afternoon in order to spread out the nutrients and maximise vitamin and mineral absorption. To benefit your hair even more by promoting growth, thickness and overall health, add our Grass Fed Collagen, which also supports healthy joints, skin, nails and gut health.